A homeowner in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, experienced a frightening incident on Wednesday when a goose unexpectedly broke through her front door.
Lynne Sewell was watching television with her friend Ian Bullock when a loud bang startled them. "I was scared by the loud bang to start with, and it was enormous," she said.
Initially thinking someone was attempting to force entry, they discovered a Canada goose trapped in the door. "I thought it was probably someone trying to kick the door or something," Lynne explained.
Her friend Ian went to investigate first. "He shouted 'there's a bird with its head through the glass'," she recalled.
The goose eventually freed itself and fell into the porch. "We didn't know if it was alive or dead," said Lynne. "I was so scared."
Unable to get immediate help from authorities late at night, they provided the bird with a blanket, water, and porridge oats. "I was thinking about it all night in bed, wondering what to expect the next morning," Lynne added.
Rescue and Recovery
In the morning, Ian found the goose still alive and arranged for Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital to collect it. "A lady called Amy came and wrapped him up and took him off," he said.
Amy Blower, team leader at the hospital, described the incident as "a shock." She believes the bird may have been fatigued and misjudged its landing. "It's very unusual to be in the middle of a housing estate and flying that late at night," she noted.
Despite crashing through glass, the goose sustained only minor injuries. "Surprisingly, he's just come off with a few minor scrapes and wounds from the glass he's smashed through," Amy said. "He had a small laceration to his beak and one just on the left side of his body - but other than that, he was pretty much absolutely fine."
The goose is receiving pain medication and antibiotics and is expected to be released back into the wild soon.
Lynne has since boarded up her damaged door and is arranging repairs through her insurance. "I really don't know how it could have gone through that glass and survived," she remarked. "The chances of that happening, it's just not what you expect, is it?"
